Article processing apparatus



March 22, 1949. w. B. FAIRFIELD I 2,464,839

y ARTILE PROCESSING APPARATUS Filedsept. 28, 1945 3 sheets-sheet 1 March22, 1949. w. B. FAIRFIELD ARTICLE PROCESSING APPQARATUS Filed Sept. 28,1945 March 22, 1949. w. B. FAIRFIELD 2,464,839

ARTICLE PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed sept. 2a, 1945 s sheets-sheet s 82 73i 74 53 Blf/#m7 Awa af 56'@ L70 Afro/Mm Patented Mar. 22, 1949 ARTICLEPROCESSING APPARATUS Walter B. Fairfield, La Grange, Ill., assignor toWestern Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporationof New York Application September 28, 1945, Serial No. 619,128

9 Claims.

This invention relates to article processing apparatus and moreparticularly to automatic welding apparatus for welding studs tosurfaces.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and efcient automaticwelding apparatus and associated mechanism to eject the welded assembly.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a conventionalwelding machine is provided with an indexible table having a pluralityof nxtures adapted to hold nanged can covers in xed alignment with studsto be welded thereon. At one station, the studs are welded to the coversby a reciprocating welding head, while at the next station an ejector,secured to the reciprocating head and having spring forced spreadinglingers, lifts the can cover from the xture and as the table is rotatedthe :lingers are moved together to drop the cover into a receptacle.

A complete understanding of the invention will be had by reference tothe following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing oneembodiment of the invention incorporated in a conventional weldingmachine of which only portions of the head and the bed plate are shown;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 taken onthe line 2--2 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig.1, taken on the line 3-3 in the direction of the arrows, showing thewelding contacts in section;

Fig. 4 is a plan sectional view of the apparatus taken on the line 4-4of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line v.'i--S of Fig. 2 in thedirection of the arrows, showing the relationship of the ejectormechanism to one of the holding fixtures.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that a conventional electricresistance welding machine 20, only partly shown, having a reciprocablehead 2| anda bed plate 22 is provided with an indexible table 23 adaptedto be intermittently rotated to carry, in consecutive order, fouridentical assembly holding fixtures 24 (Fig. 4) mounted thereon from aloading station 25 to a second loading station 26, then to a weldingstation 21 and finally to an ejector station 28. The table 423 issecured to the head 29 (Figs. 2 and 4) of a shaft 3U which isreciprocably and rotatably positioned in a shouldered aperture 3l formedin an irregular shaped member 32 secured to the bed 22 of the weldingmachine 20. An insulating member I9 (Fig. 1) electrically insulates thebed 22 from the member 32. At its upper portion, the shaft 30 isthreaded to engage the threads of a collar 33 having a lower portion 35in slidable engagement with the walls of the aperture 3l. A spring 36disposed in the shouldered aperture 3| urges the shaft 3U upwardlythereby providing a yieldable mounting for the table 23. Downwardmovement of the shaft 3B with respect to the member 32 may be adjustablylimited by the collar 33. The lower end of the shaft 30 is fixed to alocating plate 40 provided with four indexing apertures 4 l, which arepositioned to successively receive a reciprocable locking pin 42, whichmay be raised by a manually operable lever 43 having a bifurcated end 44engageable with a collar 45 fixed around the pin 42 which is in turnslidably mounted in apertures 50 and 5I formed in the member 32. Ahelical compression spring 46 which encircles the upper part of the pin42 continuously urges the pin into engagement with the locating plate4i).

The holding xtures 24 are identically ccnstructed and are mountedequidistantly apart around the center of the table 23. Each of theholding fixtures 24 is provided with a base 52 (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) whichis secured to the table 23 directly over a rectangular aperture 53formed in the table 23. Secured to the base 52 are two oppositelydisposed blocks 54 and 55 suitably shaped to receive a can cover 58which is maintained in a horizontal plane 'by a platform 3G urgedupwardly by two springs 6| and (i2 disposed in shouldered apertures S3and 64 formed in the basey 52. The platform 60 is maintained inhorizontal alignment by a pair of headed guide pins t5 and 65 slidablydisposed in the apertures 63 and 64 and threadedly secured to theplatform 6B. A welding electrode l'll having hollow posts 'Il and l2(Fig. 5) extending through apertures 'i3 and 'I4 in the base 52 issecured to the lower side of the base 52 by means of a bolt 'l5 which iselectrically insulated from the base by an insulating bushing 8l! and aninsulating washer Bl. The electrode l0 is electrically insulated fromthe base 52 by an insulator 82 and by air gaps between the posts 'l'land 'l2 and the walls of the apertures 13 and i4, respectively. Theaperture 53 is large enough to provide an air gap between the walls ofthe aperture` 53 and the electrode 'lil to prevent an electrical shortcircuit between the table 23 and the electrode lll. Apertures 83 and 84are provided in the posts 'll and 12 to receive Shanks of studs 86 and8l which are to be welded tothe can cover 3 56. Normally, the can cover5G which rests on the platform 60 does not contact the heads of thestuds 86 and 81.

At thel welding station 27 there is provided a pair of electrodes 90 and9| (Fig. 3) reciprocably disposed in shouldered apertures 92 and 93formed in a housing 94 which is part of a subhead 95 secured to thereciprocable head 2| and which is electrically insulated therefrom by aninsulator |00, The electrodes 90 and 9| are attached to a pair of rodsand |02 having heads |03 and |04 which abut the top surfaces of a pairof adjustable bushings and |05 that are threaded into the upper portionsof the shouldered apertures 92 and 93. A pair of helical springs ||0 andpositioned in the apertures 92 and 93, respectively, and encircling theShanks |0| and |02, respectively, normally urge the electrodes 90 and 9|downward and the downward displacement of the electrodes 90 and 9| withrespect to the housing 94 is limited by the abutment of the heads |03and |04 with the bushings |05 and |06, respectively, which may beadjusted to change the limits of the downward extension of theelectrodes. A strap |I2 electrically connects the electrodes 90 and 9|to the head 2| which in turn is connected to one side of the source ofwelding current (not shown).

A contacting block I3 is secured to the bed plate 22 in line with andbelow the electrodes 90 and 9|. Electrical continuity is maintainedbetween the contacting block ||3 and the bed plate, which in turn isconnected to the other side of the source of the welding current. Thereis sufficient space between the electrodes 90 and 9| and the contactingblock 3 normally to allow the passage therebetween of the table 23 andthe holding fixtures 24 in a horizontal plane. The table 23 is soindexed that at any locked position one of the holding fixtures ispositioned between the electrodes 90 and 9| and the contacting block I3,the electrodes 90 and 9| being in a direct line with the posts and 12,and the lower part of leleactrode 'l0 is directly above the contactingblock The ejector station 28 is located 90 away from the welding station2l on the arc of the circle having as its center the shaft 30 and theperiphery of which 'passes through the holding fixtures. The ejectingmechanism is contained in a housing ||5 secured to a rod |20 which hasan abutment head |2| and which is reciprocably positioned in ashouldered aperture |22 formed in the sub-head 95. A helical spring |23disposed in the aperture 22 continuously urges the rod |20 downward. Apair of fingers 24 and |25 (Fig. 5) are pivotally mounted within thehousing |5 and extend downwardly through the open bottom of the housing.The ends of the ngers |24 and |25 which extend from the housing arecontinuously urged away from each other by a helical Icompression spring3| the ends of which are dis-posed in apertures |32 and |33 formed inthe fingers |24 and |25, respectively. Lateral outward movement of thefingers |24 and |25 is adjustably limited by a pair of set screws |34and |35. The upper end of the finger |25 has a camming surface |40 whichis engageable by a cam |4| fixed to a shaft |42 journalled in anaperture |43 (Fig. 2) formed in one side of the housing ||5. A lever |44is fixed to the shaft |42 and will be rocked (Fig. 2) upon being engagedby a lug |45 on the shaft head 29 when the table is rotated. When lever|44 is rocked clockwise (Fig. 1) the cam |4| will engage the cammingsurface |40 of the finger |25, thereby forcing the lower Lif) end of thefinger 25 toward the finger |24 against the action of the spring |3|.There are four of .the lugs |45 disposed about the shaft head whereby ineach rotation of the table the fingers will release four times.

When the head 2| is lowered to perform a welding operation, a limitedamount of reciprocation is imparted to the table 23 by a rod |46 havingan abutment head |50 and which is reciprocably positioned within ashouldered aperture |5| formed in a portion of the sub-head 95.Normally, the rod |46 is urged downward by a helical compression spring|52 disposed in the aperture |5| and its lower end is slidable in acylindrical guide cavity |53 formed in the shaft head 29.

In the operation of the apparatus, an operator first inserts the shankof a headed stud 86 into the aperture 84 of the post l2 of a holdingfixture at the first loading station 25 which is diametrically oppositethe welding station 21 (Fig. 4). The holding fixture is then moved tothe second loading station 20 by rotating the table 23 90 in a clockwisedirection. To rotate the table 23 the lever 43 is operated to raise thelocking pin 42, thereby releasing the locating plate 40, permitting theoperator to rotate the table 23. After the 90 rotation of the table thelocating plate is' again locked in position by the pin 42 cooperatingwith one of the apertures 4|. At the second loading station 20 a secondheaded stud 8l is inserted in the aperture 83 of the post 1| and aflanged cover 50 is placed fiange upward in the holding fixture betweenthe blocks 54 and 55. Then the table 23 is again rotated 90 in aclockwise direction, carrying the holding fixture to the welding station2l, where the locating plate 40 is again locked in position by the pin42,

At the welding station 2l the head 2| is moved vertically downward, bymeans not shown, causing the rod |40 to strike the bottom of the cavity|53 in the shaft head 29 and by continued movement of the head 2| willresiliently force the table 23 downward until the abutting surface 34 ofthe collar 33 engages the top of the member 32. At the end of thismovement the welding electrode 'l0 contacts the contact block |3 and asthe head 2| continues downward the electrodes 90 and 9| contact the cancover 5B, forcing the cover downward against the action of the springs0| and 62 until the cover touches the heads of th-e studs and 8l,thereby preparing the circuit to effect a weld, whereupon the current issupplied to make the weld and then the head 2| is moved upwardly, as isusual in welding apparatus of this gen- The table 23 is again rotatedclockwise 90 to carry the holding fixture and the welded cover to theejecting station 28. The head 2| is again operated downward until thefingers |24 and |25 engage the edges of the cover and are cammedtogether against the action of the spring |3| to grip the cover 55 byits flanges, whereupon the head 2| is raised, carrying the ejectingmechanisrn and the can cover upward. Subsequent clockwise rotation ofthe table 23 causes one of the lugs to engage the lever |44, therebyrocking the cam |4| into engagement with the camming surface |40 of thefinger |25, which action forces the fingers |24 and |25 together,thereby releasing the cover 5B which drops into a hopper through one ofa series of suitably positioned apertures |65 formed in the table 23.

It will be apparent that since this embodiment utilizes four holdingxtures, each holding fixture may be loaded as it stops at the loadingstations,

and that a continuing number of can covers may be consecutivelyprocessed ythrough .the apparatus.

What is claimed is:

1. In a welding apparatus, a reciprocable Welding head, a bed plate tocooperate with said welding head to weld parts, a rotatably mountedtable adapted to rotate between said welding head and said bed plate, aholding xture mounted on said table for holding parts to be welded, anejecting mechanism secured to said head comprising a plurality of springpressed fingers for picking up welded assembly from said holdingfixture, and means operable to engage portions of said table uponrotation of said table to actuate the said iingers to release saidwelded assembly.

2. In a processing apparatus, a reciprocable head, a bed plate tocooperate with said head to process parts, a rotatable table mountedbetween said head and said bed plate, a holding fixture mounted on saidtable to hold a part to be processed, an ejecting mechanism secured toand responsive to reciprocation of said head to pick up and release saidpart after being processed, said ejecting mechanism comprising anadjustably fixed nger, a movably mounted finger having a cammingsurface, resilient means to urge said iingers apart, a cam engageablewith said camming surface to force the said fingers toward each other, alever connected to said cam, and lugs secured to said table to actuatesaid lever when said table is rotated, thereby releasing said part.

3. In a processing apparatus, a reciprocable head, a bed plate tocooperate with said head to process parts, a rotatable table mountedbetween said head and said bed plate, a holding fixture mounted on saidtable to hold a part to be processed, a resiliently mounted platformsecured to said holding fixture to maintain said part in a predeterminedposition, an ejecting mechanism secured to and responsive toreciprocation of said head to pick up and release said part after beingprocessed, said ejecting mechanism comprising an adjustably fixedfinger, a movably mounted iinger having a camming surface, a resilientmeans to urge said fingers apart, a cam engageable with said cammingsurface to force the said fingers toward each other, a lever connectedto said cam, and lugs secured to said table to actuate said lever whensaid table is rotated, thereby releasing said part.

4. A welding apparatus comprising a movable welding head, a bed plate tocooperate with said welding head to process a part by welding, a movabletable a-dapted to move between said welding head and said bed plate, aloading xture secured to said table to receive a part to be processed bywelding, an ejecting mechanism movable relative to said table andsecured to said welding head, said ejecting mechanism comprising asupporting member, a xed finger, a pivotally mounted finger, resilientmeans to normally urge the fingers to grip extending portions of saidprocessed part, and means engageable with portions of said table andresponsive to the movement of said table to operate said ngers torelease said processed part.

5. An article processing apparatus comprising a movable processingmember, a stationary processing member to cooperate with said movableprocessing member to process an article, a movable table adapted to movebetween said processing members along a predetermined course, a holdingfixture secured to said table to support and carry an article to beprocessed, an ejecting mechanism movable relative to said table andcomprising a stationary holding member, a resiliently urged movableholding member to cooperate with the said stationary holding member togrip and pick up a processed article, and means engageable with portionsof said table and responsive to the movement of said table to actuatesaid movable holding member to release said processed article. 1

6. An article processing apparatus comprising a movable head, a bedplate to cooperate with said movable head to process an article, meansto support and carry in a predetermined path an article to be processedbetween said head and said bed plate, an ejectiiig mechanism movablerelative to said article supporting means comprising resilient means togrip and pick up a processed article, and means operable to disengagesaid processed article from said resilient gripping means.

7. An article processing apparatus comprising a movable processingmember, a complementary processing member to cooperate with the firstsaid processing member to process an article, means to support and carryan article along a predetermined path to permit the article to beprocessed by said processing members, an ejecting mechanism relativelymovable with respect to said article carrying member comprising a fixedfinger', a resiliently urged movable nger to cooperate with said iixednger to grip and pick up the processed article, and means movable bysaid article carrying means to actuate said movable finger to releasesaid processed article.

8. In an article processing apparatus, a movable table adapted to carryand support an article to be processed, an ejecting mechanism relativelymovable with respect to said table, said ejecting mechanism comprising asupporting member, a plurality of resiliently urged relatively movableholding members adapted to frictionally engage and pick up a processedarticle, and means engageable with portions of said table and responsiveto the movement of said table to actuate said -Y holding members torelease said processed article.

9. In an article processing apparatus, an indexible table movable in apredetermined path and having projecting lugs and also having means forsupporting and carrying an article to be processed, an ejectingmechanism disposed along said path and being relatively movable withrespect to said table, said ejecting mechanism comprising a supportingmember, a pair of relatively movable members mounted on said support,resilient means to urge said movable members into a predeterminedspaced-apart relation, said movable members being adapted tofrictionally engage extending portions of an article when said ejectingmechanism is moved toward said table, and means engageable with one ofsaid movable members and upon movement of said table with saidprojecting lugs to operate said movable members to disengage saidarticle from said movable members after said ejecting mechanism has beenmoved away from said table.

WALTER B. FAIRFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the

